Patrick Stewart wasn’t available — so Ian McKellen stepped in to help a man propose to his Star Trek-fan boyfriend

Documentary filmmaker Brett Lotriet Best searched the universe for the right person to help him to propose to his boyfriend, but he settled for the next best thing: Sir Ian McKellen.

Best’s boyfriend Khalid Shawwa (and, spoiler alert, new fiance) is a fan of Star Trek — and Captain Jean-Luc Picard actor Patrick Stewart in particular — so Best thought it would be, er, best to enlist the actor’s help in proposing. Unfortunately, Stewart wasn’t available — in more ways than one — and so McKellen, Stewart’s best friend, stepped in.

“I searched the galaxy for Patrick Stewart,” Best reveals on a cue card in his video proposal. “And finally asked his best friend for help.”

The video switches to a clip of McKellen, holding a clapboard reading “Mookie – Will you marry me?”

“Khalid, I’ve got bad news,” McKellen says. “Patrick Stewart is married — I married him. Well, no, I was the minister at the wedding. He’s not available. The good news is that Brett is available.”

“Think it over,” McKellen continues. “Do the right thing.”

McKellen has since posted a link to the video on his Facebook page, writing, “I’m glad to hear that Khalid did the right thing.”

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